Driving plane



July 14, 1925.

L. S. DILLINGHAM DRIVING PLANE Filed June 2.3, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 L60 ,Sco

July 14, 1925.

L. S. DIL LINGHAM DRIVING PLANE m n 1 m n 3 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JwttQilli/ y mm Filed June 25, 1924 Patented July 14, 1925.

UNITED STATES LEO SCOTT DILLINGI-IAM, OF ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA.

DRIVING PLANE.

App1ication filed .Tune 23, 1924. Serial No. 721,755.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEO Soo'r'r DILLING- HAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Asheville, in the county of Buncombe and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Driving Plane, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a combined aeroplane and road vehicle, the primary object of the invention being to provide a combined machine of this type wherein the wings are of the collapsible type so that the operator may readily and easily move the wings to their inactive positions and the machine used as a road vehicle.

An important object of the invention is to provide wings including a plurality of pivotally mounted sections properly braced to Withstand severe strains to which the wings are subjected while in flight.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for holding the wings against rearward movement, while in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan View of a combined driving and flying plane constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view thereof.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view thereof.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4T4E of Figure 1. I

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a perspective view disclosing one of the pivoted frames of which the wings are constructed.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the body portion of the device is indicated generally by the reference character 5 and is supplied with the usual cock pit 6 in which the operator positions himself.

The collapsible wings, which form the important feature of the invention are indicated by the reference character 7, and as shown each of these wings includes a plurahty of frame sections shown more particularly by Figure 6 of the drawings and indicated by the reference character 8. Each of these frame sections comprises spaced arms 9 that converge towards their outer ends where they are connected, the intermediate portions of the arms being connected by means of the brace bars 10 so that the arms 9 will be held in proper spaced relation at all times.

The reference character 11 indicates bearlng members formed at the inner end, of each frame section, which bearing members accommodate the bolt 12 that extends through the apertured cars 13 of the bracket member 14 so that the frame sections will be securely mounted with respect to the body portion, but capable of pivotal movement to allow them to be moved to positions in close proximity with the sides of the body portion when it is desired to use the device as a land vehicle.

Truss rods 15 are shown as disposed di agonally between the arms 9 of each section, making a structure which is exceptionally rigid and capable of withstanding severe strains to which the planes are subjected While in flight.

In order that the sections may swing into close engagement with each other, the arms 9 of the forward sections are arranged in greater spaced relation with each other than the arms of the succeeding frame sections so that one frame section may fit within the adjacent frame section.

Supported by the frame sections is a suitable flexible cover 16, which cover completely houses the frame sections as shown, by Figure 5 of the drawings. In order that the flexible covering 16 may be properly secured, securing strips 17 are mounted on the underside thereof, and arranged directly over the arms 9 of the frame sections where they are secured in any well known manner.

Removable brace rods 18 are pivotally connected adjacent to the forward end of the body 5 and have hook: members 19 formed at their outer ends and adapted to hook into eyes secured to the forward frame section of each wing so that the wings will be held against rearward movement when in the flying position.

The, rudder is indicated at 20 and is operated from the cockpit by means of the cables 21 that have connection with the arm 22 carried by the rudder. The elevating planes are indicated at 23 and are operated in the usual manner from the cockpit.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that due to this construction, the plane sections may be folded into substantially paral lel relation with the body of the machine, and the machine employed as a road vehicle. When it is desired to use the machine for flying purposes, the operator may swing the planes to their active positions as shown by the several figures of the drawings.

It might be further stated that the machine is supplied with the usual propeller and transmission mechanism for trainsmitting the power from a suitable motor not shown, to the propeller.

The usual wheel supported frame is indicated at 2e and provides means whereby the machine may be moved over the ground surface when the same is being used as a road machine.

It is contemplated to combine all the comforts of an automobile with the service and advantages of an aeroplane, making it possible by the use of a complete automobile chassis including a six cylinder motor, four wheels, drive shaft, differential, brakes and in fact a complete automobile unit for operating on the ground, with folding and collapsible wings in monoplane style attached to the body or fuselage as described heretofore and instead of operating the propeller direct on the crank shaft as is now being used by all aeroplanes, I propose to install a three speed transmission with reverse between the front of the six cylinder motor and the radiator and propeller.

The controls, while inv the air are what is commonly known as the rudder and tail assembly, which will be protected while on the ground, by a strong guard or bumper extending from the rear of the body or fuselage past the tail assembly.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a body portion, lateral planes, each of the lateral planes including a plurality of sections, each of said sections having bearing members formed at its inner end, a bracket member secured to each side of the body portion, a supporting bolt positioned in each bracket, the bearing members of the plane sections pivotally supporting the plane sections, and resilient means for normally urging the plane sections to their active positions.

2. In a device of the character described, a body portion, lateral planes, each of the lateral planes including a plurality of sections hingedly connected to the body portion, spring members having connection with the lateral planes for normally urgin the planes to their active positions, anc means for moving the planes to positions parallel with the sides of the body portion.

3. In a device of the character described, a body portion, a plurality of telescoping plane sections pivotally mounted at each side of the body portion, a member supported at each side of the body portion for pivotally supporting the sections of the planes, means for normally urging the sections to their active positions, and manually controlled means for moving the sections to their inactive positions.

In. testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LEO SCOTT DILLINGHAM.

Witnesses \VALLACE ELDEN MILLER. IVIARCUS ERWIN. 

